V O L U M E 2 7
J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 6
SIMPLE, FROZEN JOY
A DREAM REALIZED;THE GOLDEN YOKE OPENS IN ST. IGNATIUS
B Y LY N D S AY B R U N O C O M M U N I C AT I O N S D I R E C TO R
On the Corner of Highway 93 and Mountain View Road in St.Ignatius you will find the Golden Yoke Creamery owned and operated by Laura Ginsburg and her partner Connie Surber. Laura and Connie served their first customers Memorial Day weekend. Everything is made from scratch with three simple ingredients: milk, cream and sugar.
us teaching each other what we are passionate about and truly know as we go along,” said Laura. love because while the excitement sticks around, sobering issues do As to be expected with starting arise particularly around funding, any business, Laura says there regulations, sales and projections. have been challenges in starting Also, keep your head up and build the dairy farm and creamery. It a support network of like-minded took Laura and Connie about 18 folks. We never wanted to give up months to work through all of our dream during the really tough the licensing. Laura said financ- times, but it sure helped having ing was also a big hurdle to cross. people who believed in us.” Montana Farmers Union and The Golden Yoke purchases milk the Red Ants Pants Foundation When not at work, you will find from Darigold or Meadowgold helped Connie with the finan- Laura on the farm tending to the and tries to support local dairy cial resources to attend formal animals. They have 15 cows in the farmers when able. ice cream production training at herd with a mix of milkers, young Penn State University. Laura also stock and steers. “Our cows know The journey says a Growth Through Agricul- their names and have distinct perture grant partly paid for their sonalities. We have some that are Laura says the dream of opening pasteurizer and freezers. high-strung and others that are a farm to creamery started about very low-key,” said Laura. eight years ago when they were Laura continues to work full-time living in Vermont. Laura is not away from the farm and creamery Plans for the future from a farming background, but while Connie focuses solely on dehas experience with food service. veloping and operating the cream- As for the future, Laura says Connie does have a dairy back- ery and farm. She says striking a they have plans to build a certiground. “Connie’s love is making balance with off-farm income and fied milking facility in the next incredible ice cream, and I love on-farm income has really helped. year to 18 months with the ultithe cows, so it has been a lot of “You should do something you mate goal of producing seasonal,
5
grass-based ice cream. The Golden Yoke will be open Friday to Sunday 12-9 every weekend until Labor Day. Visit http://www.thegoldenyoke.com/ for updates on the creamery and farm and follow the Golden Yoke on Facebook for frequent updates on their products and mouthwatering pictures of ice cream deserts!
Connie Surber at the Golden Yoke
.